The FIA does not want to change the curbs of Monza after the Verstappen/Hamilton collision
The race director, Michael Masi, has stated that the kerbs at the first chicane of Monza will not be changed. It is up to the drivers to make the right decision.
If Daniel Ricciardo won his first Grand Prix since 2018, all eyes are on the incident between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at mid-race. Monza offers several opportunities for drivers to take an alternative route to avoid incidents. During the duel between the two drivers, Verstappen preferred to persist instead of going through the curbs. The collision was then inevitable.
After the race, race director Michael Masi stated that the curbs at the first chicane worked well and that it is up to the driver to decide whether to persist in an overtaking move or risk cutting them. They serve their deterrent function that prevents drivers from taking the turn, but the curbs can also serve as an alternative in case of a potential accident.
In the accident situation, Verstappen insisted and did not take the curbs. But with the limited space left by Hamilton, he could not avoid the collision with the Mercedes. In this situation, I think the curbs work quite well in this particular corner. It was a driver’s choice. You can drive on a curb or go left (into the escape route, editor’s note). We have seen this several times throughout the weekend. Some drivers, in similar situations, have chosen to go left through these small bumps, he explained to the media. However, Masi does not plan to remove or change the curbs.
In this accident, Verstappen was judged mainly responsible and received a three-place grid penalty for the next race in Russia. Masi explained that the decision was made after the race, as both cars were eliminated on the spot. Otherwise, the Dutchman would have received a time penalty, similar to Hamilton’s at Silverstone. The seven-time world champion had then received a 10-second penalty after his clash with the current championship leader. One of the things we generally agree with the teams is that a penalty of five or ten seconds is given for this kind of situation. If both drivers had continued the race, they would have received a time penalty. They could not continue to serve the penalty. So a grid penalty, as agreed with all the teams, is applied, said the race director. Earlier in the race, Verstappen even went over the curbs to avoid Ricciardo. With the pressure and delay caused by his pit stop, the Dutchman may not have had time to think about the consequences.
